Chapter 3: Test
A commercial building with peeling cement and a thick layer of dust. If the window hadn’t been open, I would’ve definitely thought it was abandoned.
Muyoung climbed the stairs with a nervous expression.
“Im Junho.”
“Huh?”
“Why are you following me?”
Unlike the cautious Muyoung, Junho was grinning. When Muyoung blocked the stairs with his foot and asked, his friend quickly put on a stern, serious expression.
“There’s usually a lot of scammers in this line of work. The building’s condition is also NG. You’re worried that the clueless Ha Muyoung might just stamp his seal and sign. So just say thank you and take the lead. Ahem.”
“You’re kidding. Do you think I don’t know?”
“Heehee. Heeeheehee.”
They were at an age where they were very interested in girls. Since they were preparing to become actors, how pretty would they be? Junho laughed wickedly.
“Honestly, I think my face is celebrity material too.”
“Yeah. Life is all about confidence.”
“Huh? You don’t agree?”
Squeak.
Muyoung ignored Junho and pushed open the academy door. Like the outside, the inside was also shabby. A man lying on a worn leather sofa jumped up in surprise.
“Oh!”
He must’ve been taking a nap.
“Oh, welcome.”
He was a man with a very good build. Judging only by his height and physique, one might think he was an athlete.
But his hair, which fell to his shoulders, and his neatly tied chin beard suggested that he was the owner of an extraordinary artistic soul.
“What can I do for you?”
“Uh, I’d like to get some advice.”
“Advice! Acting?”
“Isn’t this an acting academy?”
“Right. Right. Come over here and sit down.”
He cleared some snack bags off the table and gestured for them to sit. No matter how you looked at it, it wasn’t a proper place. Muyoung and Junho exchanged glances.
‘If anything happens, let’s run.’
‘That’s a good idea.’
“Nice to meet you. I’m Director Jeong Ohseok. Hehe.”
The man placed cocoa in front of the two. Ohseok sat across from them and looked Muyoung and Junho over.
“The person who wants advice is…….”
He had been a director for seven years and had learned one thing.
It was true that actors grew step by step, but most of the kids who came to acting academies didn’t want that.
“I’m Ha Muyoung.”
“Ah. It’s you!”
Ohseok felt sorry for those kids.
And to be honest, he thought they were pathetic. It was like watching a stubborn person running to reach the sun.
He had ruthlessly weeded out kids who were more interested in fame than acting, and as a result, his residence had been reduced to this shabby building.
“You’re very handsome. Sejin High? What grade?”
He was a tall, striking student who caught your eye. Junho was also good-looking and likely popular, but his attitude was different. And usually, kids like that came to the academy full of hot air.
If that was the case, he’d politely send him away.
……But he’d been eating ramen for three days already.
“I’m in my third year.”
“Just in your third year?”
“No. I’m graduating.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
The timing was very awkward.
Preparation for the Department of Theater and Film usually started when you entered high school. Now was the season when the results came out. Ohseok stroked his chin and sized Muyoung up.
‘Is he retaking? What’s the situation?’
Failed the entrance exam and escaped into acting, relying only on his good looks?
That was the worst scenario he could think of. Ohseok hid his thoughts with a smile and asked,
“Are you preparing for the Department of Theater and Film? Retaking would be easier for modeling or something else than for the Department of Theater and Film.”
“No. I’m not interested in that. Regardless of the entrance exam, I want to learn acting.”
Oh. His answer was unexpectedly firm.
In that case, it was worth having expectations. Choosing to act at an important time like this proved that he was serious about it.
“Have you ever acted before?”
“Never.”
“Then I’ll give you advice for the adult class.”
Ohseok handed him a course booklet.
“Is there a price difference between classes?”
“You can think of it as a difference in level. There’s a beginner, intermediate, and advanced class, and the beginner class is the most expensive. There’s just a lot to teach. Ah. And I teach all the classes myself.”
The beginner class was 500,000 won per month. Intermediate was 400,000 won. Advanced was 300,000 won. Muyoung was secretly shocked.
‘How is this so expensive?’
It was an amount that was impossible for him to afford given his circumstances. He had no idea what Pollen was thinking when he burst out of here. He had no intention of attending at all.
“The advanced class is the level where you go around doing on-site auditions. We film every class and give feedback through the monitor. A small, elite group of no more than five people. The resume is written there too.”
Graduated from such-and-such Department of Theater and Film, performed in such-and-such theater, appeared in many dramas, etc.
Of course, the small elite group was a choice made out of necessity, but that’s what promotion was all about.
“And most importantly, the audition pass rate! 85% of BV Academy students-”
“How long does it usually take to reach the advanced class level?”
Muyoung wasn’t interested in the formal information. He wanted to know how long it would take to learn properly.
In other words, he wanted to know how much money it would cost.
“It depends on the individual’s ability, but if they’re talented, it takes about six months to a year. Usually, people start preparing when they enter school.”
Ohseok thought it wasn’t a very long time objectively. Even if you started when you entered high school, you’d see the outline before you graduated.
The entertainment industry brought in kids who were abnormally young, so it was considered late.
“Hmm.”
Muyoung pondered, resting his chin on his hand.
Even with simple calculations, the loss was too great. No matter how you looked at it, what couldn’t be done couldn’t be done.
Squeak.
“We’re here.”
“Teacher, teacher. What did Yuchan do today-”
It was then.
The door opened and five or six students rushed in. All kinds of school uniforms. There were even schools from pretty far neighborhoods. Ohseok checked his watch.
“Has it gotten this late already?”
The academy had moved, but they came from far away to take Ohseok’s classes.
Muyoung noticed that from their uniforms.
“Go inside first and warm up.”
“Yes. Oh, I’m stiff from the cold. I’m stiff.”
“Today’s a video lesson, so set it up.”
“Hurry up and come.”
It was a casual, light, and friendly atmosphere. Ohseok quietly suggested to Muyoung,
“Well, since practical experience is important in acting class. How about you come and observe?”
Was it the director’s experience? Or the feeling of being worn down by hardship? He could feel that Muyoung was hesitating.
If he wanted to avoid eating ramen this month too, he desperately needed new students to register.
“Is that okay?”
“Of course. Everywhere else, they also show a demo class. Come on. Get up. I’ll show you the facilities first. It may not look like it, but we’ve got everything.”
Ohseok led them with a friendly smile. Junho whispered in Muyoung’s ear,
“Did you see that girl earlier?”
“Jinhwa Girls’ High?”
“She’s pretty.”
“Shut up. Please.”
Whisper whisper. Muyoung pinched Junho’s side and gritted his teeth.
The inside was bigger than he thought. Ohseok’s claim that they had everything wasn’t an exaggeration.
“There are two practice rooms. One for classes and one for independent practice. There’s also a changing room and a shower. Basic cooking is possible. But if you’re going to eat, you have to give me a bite too. Hahaha.”
Because this was his home! He’d taken out all the deposits and put everything into the academy.
“The class you’re about to enter is the intermediate class, and they’re all Department of Theater and Film applicants. Some have gotten their results, and some are still waiting.”
It was definitely shabby, but the facilities were well-maintained. Ohseok opened the practice room door.
Click-
“Ahhhhh-”
“Aaeeiouaae!”
The students were warming up their bodies and mouths in their own ways. Ohseok placed two chairs in the corner and said,
“Then feel free to watch.”
“Thank you.”
“Come on! Everyone’s warmed up, right?”
“Teacher! It’s too cold. Turn on the boiler!”
“You brat. You’re cold because you didn’t warm up properly.”
Muyoung and Junho sat in the back, hugging their bags. The class started with simple stretches.
“No matter what kind of acting you do, using your muscles is important, so make stretching a habit.”
Click.
While the kids were finishing up, Ohseok connected his laptop to the TV.
He moved the mouse a few times, and a scene from a famous romance movie appeared on the screen.
Two feet touching, their toes wiggling lovingly.
“This kind of close-up of a body part to convey emotion is used a lot. Usually, people prefer the eyes. They’re the basis of expression and are intuitive. Of course, if you go extreme and only capture the eyeball, it’s different. Anyway!”
Muyoung and Junho watched with interest.
How often do you get to take an acting class in your life? It was like entering a whole new world.
“Next.”
Ohseok continued to show various close-ups and examples of emotional acting through them.
“The part we’ll practice today is the hand. Express either love or anger with your hand. There’s no time limit. Props can be used. Dialogue is possible. But dialogue should only be used as a tool to lead the emotional line. The angle will only capture the hand. What does that mean?”
“Even if you watch silently, the emotion should be felt.”
“Bingo. Since the topic came up, Yuchan, why don’t you go first?”
The name of the boy who answered was Ki Yuchan. He had a friendly and refreshing gaze. His smile was very refreshing.
“Which one will you do?”
He stood in front of an old camera. All class processes were recorded on video, and feedback on the same day was mandatory. Muyoung watched Ki Yuchan on the monitor.
‘He looks good on camera.’
“Anger.”
It was probably an easier emotion to express because it was more intense and stimulating.
The director pressed the camera’s record button, as if he’d expected it.
“Action!”
Ki Yuchan clasped his hands together. Only his hands were captured in the angle, but to raise his emotions, anger slowly crept onto his face.
Crunch-
The sound of bones cracking refreshingly. He placed his hand on the desk. From his slightly trembling fingertips, anger that couldn’t be contained was felt.
Crash!
And then he slammed it down forcefully.
“Okay. Cut.”
It was an average performance, neither bad nor good. If there was anything praiseworthy, it was that he did it without dialogue.
“Next is Kang Bora.”
She was from Jinhwa Girls’ High. Long straight hair and an urban look. She looked like a rich girl with an air of nobility. When Junho tried to flirt, Muyoung pinched his thigh.
Snap.
Bora placed her hand on her waist and grabbed her collar.
If Ki Yuchan’s anger was rough and explosive, Kang Bora focused on expressing irritable annoyance.
“Okay. Cut. Next.”
Most of the students chose anger and made almost the same motions. Breaking something, hitting something, shaking something.
Ohseok, who was watching it on the screen, suddenly turned around. Muyoung’s eyes, which had been intently focused, were sparkling, as if they couldn’t sparkle any more.
“Is that Ha Muyoung student?”
“Huh?”
“Would you like to test the camera right now?”
The courage to stand in front of strangers. That alone was already one of the test’s hurdles.
Since he said he’d never acted before, he didn’t expect much.
“The beginner class is tomorrow.”
In the beginner class, they checked really basic things like pronunciation and simple line reading. Muyoung hesitated and walked toward the camera.
“Hello. Excuse me.”
“Wow- He’s handsome!”
“So tall!”
When Muyoung bowed, the students cheered. Their beginnings had all been like that too. Ohseok crossed his arms and watched the monitor.
‘He doesn’t look good on camera.’
His real-life appearance was much better. He probably didn’t know how to stand in front of a camera yet.
“What will you do?”
It’ll definitely be anger, Ohseok thought, but an unexpected answer came back.
“I’ll try love.”
“Ooooh-”
Since they were all around the same age, their reactions were good.
“You said we could use tools, right?”
“Do whatever’s comfortable.”
It was a test, after all.
Muyoung gestured to Junho, who had been standing still.
“Come here.”
“Me? No way.”
“Come on, quickly.”
“What are you talking about? I said no.”
He seemed embarrassed just by the attention. Junho refused vehemently, his face turning red. Seeing that, Bora stood up confidently.
“If you need someone, I’ll do it.”
They had to hurry up to get feedback. Muyoung glared at Junho once and then bowed his head.
“Thank you.”
“Then action!”
Ohseok’s eyes, which had been focused on the monitor, grew wider. Muyoung’s side profile, focused on acting, looked much more alive than before.
‘What’s going on?’
Muyoung faced Bora.
For several seconds, continuously.
And soon, he smiled and brought his thumb to Bora’s lips. Very carefully, as if she were the most precious thing in the world.
‘Huh? What’s that?’
‘What’s with this guy?’
Without any dialogue.
That hand gently brushed Bora’s lower lip.
In the strange silence, all that could be felt was a fervent love confession.